Image Source : AP Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his facet’s second purpose through the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Alaves on the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 13
The final time Barcelona hosted Paris Saint-Germain, it was one of many biggest comebacks in Champions League historical past.
The similar groups will meet Tuesday on the Camp Nou for the primary time since Barcelona routed PSG 6-1 practically 4 years in the past.
“That game will go down in history,” Barcelona ahead Ousmane Dembélé mentioned forward of the primary leg of this 12 months’s spherical of 16. “There will be revenge in the air due to the media trying to spice things up. However, we don’t talk about it in the squad because we know it’ll be a difficult game. We know Paris, they are the current Champions League runners-up. They are among the favorites to win the trophy.”
Things have modified since that match in 2017, with PSG getting nearer and nearer to the title and Barcelona coming off one among its worst seasons ever amid political turmoil and monetary struggles. While PSG made it to the ultimate final season, Barcelona misplaced to Bayern Munich 8-2 within the quarterfinals. The Catalan membership hasn’t reached the ultimate since 2015, when it gained its final European title.
Barcelona and PSG additionally met within the knockout spherical of the Champions League in 2013 and 2015, with the Spanish powerhouse popping out on prime every time. PSG final superior previous Barcelona within the 1995 quarterfinals. Only Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have confronted one another extra occasions within the Champions League since 2013.
Neymar was with Barcelona throughout that historic 6-1 end result within the final 16, scoring twice and main the membership to victory after a 4-0 loss in Paris within the first leg. He’s now with PSG, however the Brazilian gained’t be enjoying on Tuesday due to an harm. PSG additionally gained’t have ahead Ángel Di Maria accessible.
“I’m not going to lie, personally I think it’s better that a player like Neymar won’t be playing,” Barcelona defender Jordi Alba mentioned Monday. “It’s an important absence for them, like is Di María’s, who is a great player and helps a lot defensively and offensively.”
Barcelona additionally has some gamers sidelined, although it’s possible that captain Gerard Piqué will return to motion after an extended interval nursing a knee harm. Others absences for Barcelona embrace Ronald Araújo, Philippe Coutinho and Sergi Roberto, who scored the sixth purpose 5 minutes into stoppage time to seal Barcelona’s comeback in 2017.
“For any team it is important to have all your players available,” Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman mentioned. “Di María and Neymar are great players but we also have people missing who make us a stronger side. Both teams have important players missing.”
The assembly towards PSG comes at an ideal time for Barcelona. The crew has recovered from a poor begin to the season and has Messi in prime kind, having scored 9 targets within the final 9 matches in all competitions.
“I have faith in my team and in my players. It’s clear that we have improved, the results have shown that,” mentioned Koeman, whose crew has gained seven of its final eight video games in all competitions, with its solely setback a 2-0 loss at Sevilla within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals final week.
Koeman mentioned all of the discuss a attainable switch by Messi to PSG will not be affecting his crew. The Argentina nice wished to depart the membership on the finish of final season however had his request denied. His contract ends this season.
“I’m not sure what the intention is, I’m not going to get into that,” Koeman mentioned. “I have to prepare my players and Messi is a Barcelona player. And I have a lot of hope that he will stay with Barcelona.”
A Champions League title might assist persuade Messi to remain, however first Barcelona must get previous a well-recognized foe that desires to show itself towards an outdated rival.
